In the days and hours leadingup to the CMHL trade deadline the Colorado Avalanche consumated a mind blowing 13 deals. Most were of the minor variety but there were two that particularily stood out and should give this team and identity.

The first was the deal that saw the Avalanche acquire defenceman Brad Stuart from Boston. It cost them big time as they had to give up veteran defenceman Marek Zidlicky, promising young winger Teemu hartikainen and a 3rd round pick, but it solidifies their defence and gives the Avalanche a very solid top 4 moving into next year.

The second and most significant deal was the one they pulled off at the deadline, acquiring highly touted winger Phil Kessel and young goalie Sergei Bobrovsky from teh New York Rangers. Kessel brings in a whole new dimension to the team and allows them to now have two solid lines once they can find that elusive number 1 centre come the summer. Kessel will mostl likely be the top rw and play on a line with kris Versteeg, both who will be rerated and hopefully will play their best hockey.

"We are ecstatic to boast this kind of lineup right now. Obviously it will be difficult to play out the rest of the season not having a top line centre but we feel what we've accomplished here at the deadline has set us up for future success"

Colorado sure have the youth to build around in goal as Varlamov and Bobrovsky will form a good young duo an with the team having a top 4 defence of Barrett Jackman Dennis Wideman Wade Redden and Brad Stuart the future is looking bright indeed for this team that has floundered all year.